Seahawks coach Pete Carroll: ‘We could be 8-0 right now’

Share this:

Yes, the Seahawks lost to the Lions on Sunday. And yes, they probably should have won — it was Seattle’s defense, considered beforehand to be one of the elites of the NFL, that allowed Detroit to roll in the fourth quarter and score the game-winning touchdown with 20 seconds to go.

No doubt there are some fans who might disagree. Inconsistency has been a downfall for this Seattle team, which is trying to assert itself as a major force in the NFL.

In the Week 1 loss to Arizona, the standout issue was dropped passes. In the Week 4 loss to St. Louis, it was penalties and turnovers. In the Week 7 loss to San Francisco, it was dropped passes again.

And in Week 8 on Sunday, after Seattle’s defense had dominated all season, the Lions were able to convert 12 of their 16 third-down opportunities.

“We didn’t break down anywhere else,” Carroll said of the third-down issue. “We really had a very solid football game and played well enough in all areas to get ourselves the win.”

“The defensive guys knew that the game was on them,” Carroll added. “They took it and were readily held accountable for it. And they understand that, and we’re disappointed because that’s been something that everyone in this locker room counts on those guys to get done. And they know that.”

Pete Carroll talks to his players during the first half Sunday. (Duane Burleson/AP Photo)

Nevertheless, Seattle’s four losses — all on the road — have been close. The Seahawks weren’t able to put together a last-minute comeback against the Cardinals, losing 20-16 in Arizona. Poor red-zone efficiency cost the Hawks a 19-13 game in St. Louis. Just one completed incompletion could have turned around Seattle’s 13-6 loss in San Francisco. And a stronger defense would have held off the Lions on Sunday, when Seattle fell 28-24.

The Seahawks haven’t lost by more than six points this year. In each game, just one touchdown — just one more successful play — could have made the difference.

“It’s so close. We’re so encouraged by where we are and what we’ve done,” Carroll told radio hosts Brock Huard and Mike Salk on Monday. “Look at these games. After eight games — we could easily be 8-0. We could be 8-0 right now.

“And I think — I hate to think of it this way — but if you go ahead and you look at us a year ahead from now, when these guys have been through all of this, then all of these edges that we need — these little edges that you need — if they fall in our favor then we have a great football team.”

Yes, the Seahawks could be 8-0 right now. But, if you think about it, they could also easily be 2-6 right now. Or even 1-7.

Without that highly controversial game-winning touchdown against the Green Bay Packers in Week 3, the Seahawks would have lost that game 12-7 instead of winning 14-12. And without quarterback Russell Wilson’s stellar deep pass to Sidney Rice against the Patriots in Week 6, Seattle would have lost 23-17 to New England instead of winning 24-23.

Defensive end Chris Clemons reacts on the sideline as the clock runs out Sunday. (Paul Sancya/AP Photo)

Only the Seahawks’ 27-7 victory over Dallas and their 16-12 win at Carolina have been decisive. And one might argue that Seattle could have lost to the Panthers, as well.

Nevertheless, now halfway through the season, the Seahawks are sitting at .500.

That’s better than last season, when Seattle started 2-6. That’s the same as 2010, when the Seahawks went 4-4 through their first eight games. And that’s better than the 2009 Seahawks, who began Jim Mora’s only season 3-5.

“This is the beginning of the finish as we look at it, as the second half starts,” Carroll said, “and we really want to hit it hard and see if we can’t come through.”

“It’s just unfortunate,” he added, “because we have a lot of good guys out there battling their tails off. And we fought real hard; there wasn’t really any question about that. It’s just that (Detroit) executed better than we did.”